Assembly having gasket resistant to side loading by pressurized fluid

ABSTRACT

An assembly that includes first and second housing members, a gasket and a plurality of bolts that exert a clamp force to clamp the gasket between the first and second housing members. The gasket includes a plurality of tab members that engage the interior of one or both of the first and second housing members. The gasket tabs can resist a force exerted by a pressurized fluid within one or both of the first and second housing members. A gasket that is resistant to side loading due to a pressurized fluid is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 13/494,239 filed Jun. 12, 2012,(issued on Dec. 3, 2013, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,645), which is adivision of U.S. Ser. No. 12/882,817 filed Sep. 15, 2010, (issued onJun. 19, 2012, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,201,833), which is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 11/686,691 filed Mar. 15, 2007, (issued on Dec. 14, 2010as U.S. Pat. No. 7,850,055). The disclosure of each of theaforementioned applications is incorporated by reference as if fully setforth in detail herein.

INTRODUCTION

The present invention generally relates to assemblies having apressurized fluid disposed therein and more particularly to an assemblyhaving a gasket that is resistant to side loading by the pressurizedfluid, as well as a gasket that is resistant to side loading by thepressurized fluid.

It is common for pneumatic fastening tools (e.g., nailers) to employ ahousing that includes a housing body and a housing cap. The housing bodytypically includes a relatively large opening through which thecomponents of the motor of the pneumatic fastening tool (e.g., cylinder,piston) may be installed into the housing body. The housing cap can beemployed to close this opening in the housing body. A gasket istypically disposed between the surfaces of the housing body and thehousing cap and a plurality of bolts are employed to fixedly butremovably couple the housing cap to the housing body.

It will be appreciated that each of the bolts is elastically elongatedwhen tightened to thereby generate a clamping force that is appliedthrough the housing cap, the gasket and the housing body (i.e., thejoint). In practice, a majority of the clamping force generated by eachbolt is transmitted through the joint in the area immediately adjacentto the bolt. Consequently, the amount of clamping force that istransmitted through the joint at a given point can be inversely relatedto the distance between the given point and the nearest bolt.

It may be possible in some situations that fluid pressure exerted on theside of the gasket when the fastening tool is operated cause portions ofthe gasket to move laterally outward relative to the housing body and/orhousing cap. For example, if the surfaces of the housing body andhousing cap are relatively flat and smooth, the gasket is disposedlaterally outwardly of the inward faces of the housing body and thehousing cap at a location that is relatively far from a bolt and alubricant is disposed on one or both sides of the gasket at thislocation, the clamping force applied to the gasket at this point may notbe sufficient to inhibit outward movement of the gasket at this pointwhen a pressurized fluid is disposed within the housing. In some cases,it may be possible for the gasket to move by a distance that issufficient to permit the pressurized fluid to leak from the housing.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved assembly havinga gasket that is resistant to side loading by the pressurized fluid.

SUMMARY

In one form, the present disclosure provides an article that includes afirst housing portion, a second housing portion and a gasket. The firsthousing portion has a first wall member that defines a first internalcavity, a first inner wall, a first outer wall and a first end face thatextends between the first inner wall and the first outer wall. Theinternal cavity is configured to be filled with a pressurized fluid. Thesecond housing portion has a second wall member that defines a secondinternal cavity, a second inner wall, a second outer wall and a secondend face that extends between the second inner wall and the second outerwall. The gasket is disposed axially between the first and secondhousing portions and sealingly engages the first and second end faces.The gasket includes a plurality of gasket bosses and at least oneprojecting portion that is located between two adjacent ones of theplurality of gasket bosses. Each of the gasket bosses is configured forreceiving a threaded fastener there through. The at least one projectingportion extends into the first and second cavities and is configured tolimit laterally outward movement of the gasket between the first andsecond end faces relative to the first and second housing portions. Theat least one projecting portion is preformed prior to any compression ofany portion of the gasket between the first and second housing portions.

In another form, the present teachings provide an article that includesa first housing portion, a second housing portion and a gasket. Thefirst housing portion has a first wall member that defines a firstinternal cavity, a first inner wall, a first outer wall and a first endface that extends between the first inner wall and the first outer wall.The internal cavity is configured to be filled with a pressurized fluid.The second housing portion has a second wall member that defines asecond internal cavity, a second inner wall, a second outer wall and asecond end face that extends between the second inner wall and thesecond outer wall. The gasket is disposed axially between the first andsecond housing portions and sealingly engages the first and second endfaces. The gasket includes a plurality of gasket bosses and at least oneprojecting portion that is located between two adjacent ones of theplurality of gasket bosses. Each of the gasket bosses is configured forreceiving a threaded fastener there through. At least one recess isformed in the first end face and does not intersect either of the firstinner wall and the second inner wall. The at least one projectingportion extends into the at least one recess to limit laterally outwardmovement of the gasket between the first and second end faces relativeto the first and second housing portions. The at least one projectingportion is preformed prior to any compression of any portion of thegasket between the first and second housing portions.

In still another form, the present teachings provide an article thatincludes a gasket. The gasket defines first and second sealing surfacesthat are axially spaced apart from one another. The gasket has aplurality of gasket segments, a plurality of gasket bosses and aprojecting portion. Each gasket boss is disposed between a pair ofgasket segments and is configured for receiving a threaded fastenerthere through. The projecting portion is coupled to an associated one ofthe gasket segments and extends axially from the first sealing surfaceby a predetermined distance. The projecting portion is located betweenopposite lateral sides of the associated one of the gasket segments. Thepredetermined distance is greater than zero when the gasket is in aninitially formed, uncompressed state.

In yet another form, the present teachings provide an article thatincludes a gasket. The gasket defines first and second sealing surfacesthat are axially spaced apart from one another. The gasket has aplurality of gasket segments, a plurality of gasket bosses and aprojecting portion. Each gasket boss is disposed between a pair ofgasket segments and is configured for receiving a threaded fastenerthere through. The projecting portion is coupled to an associated one ofthe gasket segments and extends axially from the first and secondsealing surfaces by respective predetermined distances. The projectingportion is coupled to an inside lateral side of the associated one ofthe gasket segments. The respective predetermined distances are greaterthan zero when the gasket is in an initially formed, uncompressed state.

In still another form, the present teachings provide an assembly thatincludes first and second housing members, a gasket and a plurality ofbolts. Each of the housing members includes a wall member that defines aflange member and a plurality of bosses. The gasket is received betweenthe housing members and includes a plurality of gasket bosses, at leastone gasket segment, and a plurality of gasket tabs. The gasket bossesare disposed in-line between the bosses of the housing members. Thegasket segment is disposed in-line between the flange members of thehousing members and the gasket tabs are generally transverse to thegasket segment. The bolts are received through the bosses of the housingmembers and the gasket bosses and apply a clamp force to the firsthousing member, the gasket and the second housing member. The gaskettabs abut the wall member of at least one of the first and secondhousing members and are configured to resist an outwardly directed forcethat is applied to an edge of the gasket by a pressurized fluid disposedin at least one of the first housing member and the second housingmember.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a right side view of a tool constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the tool of FIG.1 illustrating the gasket exploded from the housing body;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the tool of FIG. 1illustrating the gasket exploded from the housing cap;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gasket;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken through a portion of the tool of FIG. 1along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the gasket disposed betweenthe housing body and the housing cap and the tab member engaging theinterior of the housing assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a section view similar to that of FIG. 5 but illustratinganother example of an assembly constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present disclosure wherein the tab members arepositioned between the lateral edges of an associated gasket segment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a pneumatic tool constructedin accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure is generallyindicated by reference numeral 10. The pneumatic tool 10 can include ahousing assembly 12, a pneumatic motor assembly 14, an output member 16such as a driver 18, a trigger assembly 20 and a magazine assembly 22.In the particular embodiment illustrated, the pneumatic tool 10 is anailer, but it will be appreciated that the teachings of the presentdisclosure have applicability to other types of hand-held pneumatictools, including those having a rotary, axial, reciprocating,oscillating and/or orbital output. The motor assembly 14, the outputmember 16, the driver 18, the trigger assembly 20, the magazine assembly22 and the nosepiece 24 can be conventional in their construction andoperation and need not be discussed in particular detail. For example,the motor assembly 14, the output member 16, the driver 18, the triggerassembly 20, the magazine assembly 22 and the nosepiece 24 can beconstructed as described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,202entitled “Pneumatic Fastening Tool”, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.Briefly, the housing assembly 12 can include a nosepiece 24 into whichthe driver 18 can be received. The motor assembly 14 can be disposed inthe housing and can be coupled to the driver 18. The motor assembly 14can be operable for translating the driver 18 in a driving direction.The trigger 20 can be coupled to the housing assembly 12 and can beoperable for selectively activating the motor assembly 14 to translatethe driver 18. The magazine assembly 22 can be coupled to the housingassembly 12 and can be configured to store a plurality of fasteners,e.g., nails (not shown) and sequentially feed the fasteners into thenosepiece 18.

The housing assembly 12 can include a housing body 26, a housing cap 28,a gasket 30 and a plurality of bolts (e.g., socket head cap screws) 32.With additional reference to FIG. 2, the housing body 26 can include awall member 40 that can define a cavity 42 having an opening 44 throughwhich the motor assembly 14 can be received. The wall member 40 caninclude a first flange member 46 and a plurality of first bosses 48. Thefirst flange member 46 can be generally flat. The first bosses 48 can bearranged about the perimeter of the opening 44 generally perpendicularto the first flange member 46. In the example provided, the first bosses48 extend through the first flange member 46 and include a threadedportion 50 that is configured to threadably engage the bolts 32.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing cap 28 is configured toclose the opening 44 in the housing body 26 and can include a cap wall54. The cap wall 54 can terminate at a second flange member 56 and candefine a recess 58 and a plurality of second bosses 60. The secondflange member 56 can be generally flat. The second bosses 60 can bearranged generally perpendicular to the second flange member 56. Eachsecond boss 60 can include a through-bore 62 that is configured toreceive an associated one of the bolts 32 there through. It will beappreciated that the second bosses 60 are disposed in-line with thefirst bosses 48 when the housing cap 28 is coupled to the housing body26 as shown in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 2 through 5, the gasket 30 can be formed of anappropriate gasket material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, and caninclude a plurality of gasket bosses 64, a plurality of gasket segments66 and a plurality of gasket tabs 68. The gasket bosses 64 can beconfigured to abut the first and second bosses 48 and 60 and can includea through hole 70 through which an associated one of the bolts 32(FIG. 1) can be received. Each gasket segment 66 can be coupled to twoor more of the gasket bosses 64 and can abut portions of the first andsecond flange members 46 and 56 between associated pairs of first bosses48 and pair of second bosses 60. The gasket tabs 68 can be coupled tothe gasket segments 66 at one or more locations intermediate the pairsof first bosses 48 (FIG. 2) and the pairs of second bosses 60 (FIG. 3).Each gasket tab 68 can extend generally transverse to an associated oneof the gasket segments 66 and can abut the wall member 40 of the housingbody 26 and/or the cap wall 54 of the housing cap 28. In the particularexample provided, the tab members 68 frictionally engage the wall member40 and the cap wall 54 to help align and retain the gasket 30 to thehousing body 26 and the housing cap 28, respectively. It will beunderstood, however, that the tab members 68 can be spaced somewhatinward of the wall member 40 and the cap wall 54 in the alternative sothat a relatively small space is disposed between the outward face ofthe tab members 68 and the interior surface 12 a (FIG. 5) of the housingassembly 12 (FIG. 5). In such situation, the fluid pressure within thehousing assembly 12 (FIG. 5) can be sufficient to urge the tab members68 into abutment against the wall member 40 and/or the cap wall 54.Accordingly, those of skill in the art will appreciate from thisdisclosure that the tab members 68 can be shaped in any desired mannerthat is different than the gasket segment 66 to which it is attached andcan abut one or both of the wall member 40 and the cap wall 54 to limitoutward movement of the gasket 30. For example, the tab members 68 couldbe wedge-shaped or could have a cross-section that is thicker (in thedirection of the joint) than the thickness of the gasket segment 66.

Each of the gasket tabs 68 may be located along an associated one of thegasket segments 66 equidistant from associated pairs of the first andsecond bosses 48 and 60. Alternatively, a plurality of gasket tabs 68may be located along a given gasket segment 66 such that the gasket tabs68 are proximate one or more regions where the clamp force transmittedthrough the joint (i.e., the first flange member 46, the gasket 30 andthe second flange member 56) is relatively low. In the particularexample provided, two gasket tabs 68 a and 68 b are coupled to thegasket segment 66 a, and the gasket tabs 68 a and 68 b are disposedsymmetrically about a mid-point of the gasket segment 66 a (i.e., at apoint along the length of the gasket segment 66 a at which the magnitudeof the clamp force transmitted across the joint is smallest).

The bolts 32 can be received through the second bosses 60 and the gasketbosses 64 and can be threadably engaged to the first bosses 48 togenerate a clamp force that may be transmitted through the joint.

In operation, a pressurized fluid such as compressed air can be receivedin the cavity 42. The pressurized fluid can exert a force onto thehousing assembly 12 that can tend to separate the housing body 26 fromthe housing cap 28. The clamp force generated by the bolts 32 cancounteract the separating force of the pressurized fluid and canmaintain the first and second flange members 46 and 56 in sealingengagement with the gasket 30. The pressurized fluid can also exert alateral force on the gasket 30 that can tend to push the gasket 30outwardly from between the housing body 26 and the housing cap 28. Thegasket tabs 68, which can abut one or both of the wall member 40 and thecap wall 54, can be urged outwardly against the interior surface 12 a ofthe housing assembly 12 by the pressurized fluid. The gasket tabs 68 canresist or inhibit outward lateral movement of the gasket relative to thehousing assembly 12.

It will be appreciated that while the gasket 30 has been illustrated anddescribed as being formed of a thermoplastic elastomer, those of skillin the art will appreciate that the invention, in its broadest aspects,may be constructed somewhat differently. For example, the gasket 30 maybe formed such that the gasket tabs 68 are first cut (e.g., punched) andthereafter bent or folded into an orientation that is transverse to anassociated gasket segment 66. It will be appreciated from thisdisclosure that the gasket tabs 68 may all be bent or folded in a singledirection or that a first portion of the gasket tabs 68 may be bent orfolded in a first direction and that a second portion of the gasket tabs68 may be bent or folded in a second direction opposite the firstdirection.

While the gasket 30 has been illustrated and described as including oneor more tab members 68 that are coupled to an inward side of anassociated gasket segment, those of skill in the art will appreciatethat the invention, in its broadest aspects, may be constructed somewhatdifferently. For example, the gasket 30′ can be formed such that the tabmember 68′ can be disposed laterally between the interior and exteriorsurfaces 100 and 102, respectively of the housing assembly 12′ as shownin FIG. 6. In the example illustrated, recesses 104 and 106,respectively, can be formed in the first and second flange members 46′and 56′, respectively. It will be appreciated that the recesses 104could be spaced apart along the first flange member 46′ and that therecesses 106 could be spaced apart along the second flange member 56′(i.e., the recesses are spaced apart and are discrete pockets formedinto an associated flange member). It will also be appreciated that asingle, continuous recess could be employed in one or both of the firstand second flange members 46′ and 56′. It will be further appreciatedthat regardless of the configuration of the recesses, the quantity oftab members 68′ may be greater than or less than the quantity ofrecesses and that one of the recesses 104 or 106 could be omittedaltogether (i.e., the gasket would have a T-shaped cross-section astaken through a gasket segment and a gasket tab).

While specific examples have been described in the specification andillustrated in the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing andmatching of features, elements and/or functions between various examplesis expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in theart would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/orfunctions of one example may be incorporated into another example asappropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present disclosure without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the presentdisclosure not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by thedrawings and described in the specification as the best mode presentlycontemplated for carrying out the teachings of the present disclosure,but that the scope of the present disclosure will include anyembodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article comprising a gasket, the gasketdefining first and second sealing surfaces that are spaced apart fromone another along an axis that is perpendicular to the first sealingsurface, the gasket having a plurality of gasket segments, a pluralityof gasket bosses and a projecting portion, each gasket boss beingdisposed between a pair of gasket segments and being adapted forreceiving a threaded fastener therethrough, the projecting portion beingcoupled to an associated one of the gasket segments and extendingparallel to the axis and away from the first sealing surface by apredetermined distance, the projecting portion being located betweenopposite lateral sides of the associated one of the gasket segments,wherein the predetermined distance is greater than zero when the gasketis in an initially formed, uncompressed state.
 2. The article of claim1, wherein the projecting portion also extends away from the secondsealing surface.
 3. The article of claim 2, wherein the gasket is atleast partially formed of an elastomer.
 4. The article of claim 3,wherein the elastomer is a thermoplastic elastomer.
 5. An article forforming a seal between two objects, the article comprising a gaskethaving a plurality of gasket segments and a plurality of gasket bosses,each of the gasket bosses being disposed between a pair of the gasketsegments and being adapted to receive a threaded fastener therethrough,the gasket segments and the gasket bosses cooperating to define a firstsealing surface and a second sealing surface, the gasket having aninterior edge that defines an interior aperture, the gasket furtherhaving a plurality of projections that are spaced apart about thegasket, the projections extending from the first sealing surface andbeing configured to cooperate with another structure to limit movementof the interior edge of the gasket when the gasket is installed to thetwo objects.
 6. The article of claim 5, wherein the projections alsoextend from the second sealing surface.
 7. The article of claim 5,wherein the projections cooperate with the gasket bosses and the gasketsegments to define the interior edge of the gasket.
 8. The article ofclaim 5, wherein the projections are not configured to sealingly engageeither of the two objects.
 9. The article of claim 5, wherein theprojections are disposed radially outwardly of the interior edge of thegasket.
 10. An article comprising: a first housing part defining a firstcavity; a second housing part defining a second cavity; a plurality ofthreaded fasteners coupling the first and second housing parts together;and a gasket received between the first and second housing parts andpermitting fluid communication between the first and second cavities,the gasket defining a first sealing surface, which is sealingly engagedto the first housing part, and a second sealing surface that issealingly engaged to the second housing part, the first and secondsealing surfaces being spaced apart from one another along an axis thatis perpendicular to the first sealing surface, the gasket having aplurality of gasket segments, a plurality of gasket bosses and aprojecting portion, each gasket boss being disposed between a pair ofgasket segments and being configured for receiving one of the threadedfasteners therethrough, the projecting portion being coupled to anassociated one of the gasket segments and extending parallel to the axisand away from the first sealing surface by a predetermined distance, theprojecting portion being located between opposite lateral sides of theassociated one of the gasket segments, wherein the predetermineddistance is greater than zero when the gasket is in an initially formed,uncompressed state.
 11. The article of claim 10, wherein the projectingportion also extends away from the second sealing surface.
 12. Thearticle of claim 11, wherein the gasket is at least partially formed ofan elastomer.
 13. The article of claim 12, wherein the elastomer is athermoplastic elastomer.
 14. An article comprising: a first housing partdefining a first cavity; a second housing part defining a second cavity;a plurality of threaded fasteners coupling the first and second housingparts together; and a gasket received between the first and secondhousing parts and permitting fluid communication between the first andsecond cavities, the gasket having a plurality of gasket segments and aplurality of gasket bosses, each of the gasket bosses being disposedbetween a pair of the gasket segments and receiving one of the threadedfasteners therethrough, the gasket segments and the gasket bossescooperating to define a first sealing surface, which is sealinglyabutted against the first housing part, and a second sealing surfacethat is sealingly abutted against the second housing part, the gaskethaving an interior edge that defines an interior aperture, the gasketfurther having a plurality of projections that are spaced apart about aperimeter of the gasket and extend from the first sealing surface, theprojections being configured to cooperate with another structure tolimit movement of the interior edge of the gasket.
 15. The article ofclaim 14, wherein the projections also extend from the second sealingsurface.
 16. The article of claim 14, wherein the projections cooperatewith the gasket bosses and the gasket segments to define the interioredge of the gasket.
 17. The article of claim 14, wherein the projectionsare not configured to sealingly engage either of the two objects. 18.The article of claim 14, wherein the projections are disposed radiallyoutwardly of the interior edge of the gasket.